As the University of Karachi (KU) awarded its students with degrees at the annual convocation 2011 on Saturday, a group of students staged a demonstration against the KU administration for ‘not awarding gold medals to the deserving students of bachelor of studies (BS) programmes’.
At the 22nd convocation of the public sector university, 1,875 students of different disciplines from both morning and evening programmes (2009 and 2010 batches) were awarded with Bachelors and Masters degrees.
However, a group of KU students stood up against the varsity’s mismanagement, which was sorted out temporarily on the intervention of one of the KU pro-vice chancellors and some senior teachers.
The protesting students said they had enrolled for different four-year BS programmes at the university but the position holders were not awarded gold medals, unlike the top achievers of the other study programmes.
Shouting slogans among other protesters against the Convocation Committee and the KU administration, Zainab, a Chemistry Department graduate, told Pakistan Today that around 400 students had enrolled in the BS Programme offered in different disciplines at the KU, and there were 58 students who got an overall first position at their respective departments and institutes.
“The [KU] administration had asked the students, who secured the first position, to convert their degrees into MSc to receive gold medals during the convocation,” Safia, another protester said. “But the deserving students could not make the required changes to their respective degrees due to the short notice and failed to collect the prestigious honour [of gold medal]”
Economics and Finance Department’s top position holder Shazia Kazmi, said the KU administration had asked her to bring a sponsor, if she wants to receive a gold medal at the convocation.
However, a Convocation Committee member told Pakistan Today that the KU does not give gold medals to the students itself and such awards are sponsored by individuals, industries and companies. “As it was the first graduate batch of the BS programme, no sponsorship was available for them, so these students could not get their gold medals that they do deserve,” he added.
At a recent meeting at KU, it was decided that “Letter of Acknowledgement” would be offered to the BS students as they were eligible and equivalent to the position holders of other degree programmes.
The chief guest at the convocation, Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq expressed disappointment over the protesting students’ conduct. “You can protest for your rights, but not an honour. It is an acknowledgment which is given to someone not taken forcefully,” he said.
“You should have at least shown some respect when the honorary degree was awarded to Dr Adeeb Rizvi,” said Haq – the KU pro-chancellor.
The BS students would meet the KU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui on Monday (tomorrow) at 9:30am to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, 1,875 degrees were awarded to students from 58 departments at the KU in faculties of arts, science, Islamic studies, engineering, management and administrative sciences, medicine and pharmacy.
Speaking on the occasion, the KU VC said the enrolment of both regular and private candidates is increasing and a sharp increase in number of PhD students has been witnessed. “In 2004, the varsity awarded 61 students with PhD degrees and in 2011, 238 candidates got PhD degrees,” he added.
The girl behind the one in headscarf, i heard her saying, " come fast let's join the protest we'd come on the media ( TV and newspapers). At least, someone's demands were meant! congratulations for making it to the newspaper 😛
met*
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